Stackable shelf

Abstract

A modular shelving assembly comprising legs, support members, transverse members, and connectors. Independent modular shelving assemblies can be connected together to form a unit of shelves meeting an individual's needs. The connectors connecting the modular shelving assemblies together provide a tight friction fit between the individual modular shelving assemblies such that there is the added force of a vacuum holding the individual shelves together. Additionally, when a series of individual modular shelving assemblies are not needed, they may be stacked in a nested fashion, thereby taking much less space than the individual shelves, if stacked separately.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A modular shelving assembly comprising: 
 a plurality of legs;    a plurality of support members, said support members affixed to said legs;    a plurality of transverse members, said transverse members affixed to said support members; and    a plurality of connectors for holding said legs in close proximity of each other.    
     
     
         2 . An assembly of  claim 1  wherein the distance between said transverse members is greater than the cross-section of said legs such that a plurality of modular shelving assemblies can be stacked in a nested fashion when said legs are offset.  
     
     
         3 . An assembly of  claim 1  wherein said connectors are pliable.  
     
     
         4 . An assembly of  claim 1  wherein: 
 a plurality of said legs is at least three;  
 a plurality of said support members is at least two;  
 a plurality of said transverse members is at least two; and  
 a plurality of said connectors is at least equal the to plurality of said legs.  
 
     
     
         5 . An assembly of  claim 1  wherein said legs, support members, and transverse members are coated with a material that will protect the underlying said legs, support members, and transverse members.  
     
     
         6 . An assembly of  claim 1  wherein: 
 said leg further comprises a top nipple and bottom nipple; and  
 said connector further comprises a top chamber and a bottom chamber, such that a plurality of said modular shelving assemblies can be assembled, comprising the steps of:  
 placing said top nipple of a first leg into said bottom chamber of said connector;  
 placing said bottom nipple of a second leg into said top chamber of same said connector; and  
 displacing air in said connector as distance between said top nipple of said first leg and said bottom nipple of said second leg is decreased, forming a friction, vacuum assisted connection.  
 
     
     
         7 . An assembly of  claim 1  wherein: 
 said connector further comprises a top nipple and bottom nipple; and  
 said leg further comprises a top chamber and a bottom chamber, such that a plurality of said modular shelving assemblies can be assembled, comprising the steps of:  
 placing said bottom nipple of said connector into said top chamber of said leg;  
 placing said top nipple of same said connector into said bottom chamber of a second said leg; and  
 displacing air in said legs as distance between said first and second legs is decreased, forming a friction, vacuum assisted connection.  
 
     
     
         8 . An assembly of  claim 3  wherein the inside diameter of said connector than the outside diameter of said leg.  
     
     
         9 . An assembly of  claim 1  wherein: 
 said legs further comprises a male end and a female end, such that a plurality of said modular shelving assemblies can be assembled, comprising the steps of:  
 placing said female end of a first said leg into said male end of a second said leg; and  
 displacing air in said female end as distance between said female and said male end is decreaced, forming a friction, vacuum assisted connection.  
 
     
     
         10 . An assembly of  claim 9  wherein: 
 said legs further comprises a male end and a female end, and said connector further comprises a male end and a female end such that a plurality of said modular shelving assemblies can be assembled, comprising the steps of:  
 placing said female end of a first said leg into said male end of said connector;  
 displacing air in said female end of a first said leg as distance between said female end of a first said leg and said male end of said connector is decreased, forming a friction, vacuum assisted connection;  
 placing said male end of a second said leg into said female end of said connector; and  
 displacing air in said female end of said connector as distance between said female end of connector and said male end of a second said leg is decreased, forming a friction, vacuum assisted connection.